Just wanted to say that Mark, Michael and Stuart from FMI and Trevor from PWC did an excellent job engaging the classroom in discussion each day, and had a great program format for teaching. The information they brought forward was extremely useful now as I'm sure it will be throughout my career. This was only my 2nd IMPACT course that I have attended, I would like to commend IMPACT on organizing these events for Ironworkers and contractors alike, IMPACT always put on an amazing program, and does a very good job at making these events comfortable and welcoming to attend. I plan to attend more IMPACT events as the information is always very useful and IMPACT does a great job of finding the right instructors for the occasion. I would like to thank everyone at IMPACT for the work they do to set these events up and providing the opportunity to attend these courses.

Regards,

Jacob Wicks
Chief Estimator
JCT Metals Inc.

News

Ironworkers unfazed by construction jobs more than 50 storeys up

08/06/2018

Members of Ironworkers local 720 strike a casual pose on top of Edmonton’s Stantec Tower. (Photo supplied by Building Trades of Alberta)

“It takes a little nerve, but you kind of tune out the height after you have been doing it for a while,” said Keith Stevenson, business manager for Ironworkers local 720 on Thursday.

About a dozen of the local’s 2,200 members are installing trusses and putting in bolts at the top of Edmonton’s 66-storey Stantec Tower, which will be Canada’s highest office building west of Toronto when it’s completed by the end of the year.

The skilled tradespeople are captured in a series of heart-stopping photos posted on Facebook by the Building Trades of Alberta, doing what Stevenson admits is “a fairly specialized type of work.”

“You have to really like the heights. You don’t always get to work at heights like that … You also have to be able to climb up without assistance.”

All their work is done with harnesses and other safety equipment.

While ironworkers don’t have many chances at such projects because towers are often built with concrete rather than steel, some members enjoy working on such a lofty perch, he said.

“I think the excitement of it (is the appeal). It gives you a bit of a rush. And the knowledge you’re doing something other people can’t do. A lot of these guys are thrill-seekers in their off-hours.”

2018 PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD

Project of the Year Award recognizes contractors who achieve outstanding SAFETY performance. Contractors and their Ironworkers complete countless, complex projects throughout the United States and Canada each year and truly deserve to be recognized nationally for their amazing efforts and dedication.